Saline County Coroner Jerry Doug Watson is investigating two deaths that occurred in Saline County Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning.

Saline County Law Enforcment and Detention Center Jail Administrator Captain David Underwood, 53, Harrisburg, was pronounced dead at the Saline County Detention Center and Law Enforcement Complex in Harrisburg at 3:01 p.m. Friday afternoon.

An autopsy was performed Saturday by pathologist Dr. John A. Heidingsfelder in Harrisburg. Preliminary autopsy reports indicate the cause of death to be of natural causes. Underwood was discovered in a restroom at the Saline County Law Enforcement and Detention Center.

Underwood was a 27-year employee with the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.

He is the husband of Angie (Hargrave) Underwood. The two for years worked in offices beside each other in law enforcement center. Angie is the secretary for the Harrisburg Police Department. Underwood’s daughter, Courtney, also is employed in the building as a secretary for the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. Underwood has two other daughters, Paige Lewis and Lacee Underwood and a granddaughter.

Underwood was an active member of the Harrisburg Town and Country Lions Club and was an avid fan of the Harrisburg Bulldogs. According to obituary information the family has asked in lieu of flowers people donate to Harrisburg High School Athletics, Lions Club or the Harrisburg Fraternal Order of Police Shop with a Cop.

Miner Chad Meyers

Early Saturday morning Watson investigated the death of Chad Meyers, 30, Goreville and pronounced him dead 4:40 a.m. at Willow Lake Mine.

Meyers was killed by a piece of mining equipment he was operating using a remote control device, Watson said.

“He was pinned between the machine and the mine wall,” Watson said.

An autopsy was performed Saturday by Heidingsfelder in Harrisburg. Preliminary autopsy reports indicate the cause of death to be from blunt force trauma. Meyers was an employee at Willow Lake Coal Mine.

Watson said there was to be a 9 a.m. meeting today at Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals in Benton and more details on how the accident occurred could come to light there.

Watson said it is his understanding the accident occurred about 3 a.m. and there were no witnesses to the accident.